I'd like to remind everyone that hasn't already paid their 2018 annual ECWBA membership dues of $10.00 that it is payable to either George or Patti. Hopefully both will be at Saturday's meeting, or you can mail your dues to either. (I'll ask Patti to include mailing addresses in the Minutes she writes for the meeting which will be attached to the meeting recap newsletter.) Each paid membership entitles the member to one vote in officer elections and for any activities and expenditures where a vote is deemed necessary. We will be voting for the offices of President and Secretary at our meeting on Saturday. Any member can nominate any other member, or herself/himself. Our current secretary, Patti, will provide voting slips and pencils or pens for ballots, if necessary. Sometimes there's only one candidate standing (the member that was slow in sitting down) and a vote isn't required. For those of you that haven't seen it yet, Fred has posted photos of our 12 frame extractor in its new home, the Rushford Meadery and Winery, on our blog. http://ourbeeblog.blogspot.com/ It's right on the front page for now, so take a look. There's still some cleaning required and some parts to be removed per Shane's request, and hopefully I can get out there within the next couple of days to see what needs to be done. I will also try to set up a date and time when we can convene at the Meadery so that those who want can meet Shane and Laurel and see the extractor up close and personal. But most all, a big thanks to Fred and Al for providing the heavy lifting to get it there! You may recall that in a recent newsletter I wrote about Nosema cerenae affecting our bees and how it's only detectable through a 400x microscope. A member responded to that newsletter and told me that he has a "pretty good" microscope and would be willing share his knowledge of microscopy. That member is Monty Belmer, he's a DVM with knowledge of microscopy......and owns a "pretty good" microscope. Monty has offered to bring his microscope and provide us with a presentation on microscopy at our February 17 meeting. Microscopy is not a part of hobbyist beekeeping in our area, but it's a matter of course in Europe. Articles in An Beachaire, the Irish Beekeeper's Magazine that I subscribe to, often mentions its use in articles, and several European microscope manufacturers advertise in the magazine. They use microscopes as a tool to determine viruses as well as pollens and they receive instruction within their local clubs and from the annual week-long training available at Gormanston. (I have decided that if the ECWBA sponsors me that I will use some of my precious vacation time to attend this year's course, August 12 - 17. (That's one of those things that requires a vote.)) I'm very much looking forward to Monty's presentation. I have the intention of walking away knowing what makes for a "pretty good" microscope, and a beginner's knowledge as to how to use it. Maybe if I had stayed awake during Chemistry and Biology classes this wouldn't be such a mystery. Damon Reabe of Dairyland Aviation, the aerial applicator that sprays fields in my neck of the woods, has offered to speak at our March 17 meeting. Those of you that received newsletters last year may recall how I went from a guy that despised the yellow plane, to a guy that can appreciate the depth of knowledge (physics) and care that he has. I was surprised when he told me which year my hives first popped up on Driftwatch, which was the first year I mapped them. He knew they were there all along, but because he knew they weren't in harm's way he hadn't felt a need to contact me about his spray schedule. Damon won't be bringing his plane, but he will be bringing visual aids. I don't know what his official title is, but he was elected to the top spot for educational outreach for Wisconsin aerial applicators last fall. This talk will not be about the good and evil of pesticides, but will be about how a conscientious applicator goes about handling pesticides and helping crop growers with respect to all life. From my own experience, I know that there are unwarranted misunderstandings and judgments put on aerial applicators. Guilty. But once we are educated in their reality, it's a different story. Pesticides are not going away so we must all work together to do the best we can in cooperation with each other. Because I believe many beekeepers have questions and opinions that they'd like answers to, this meeting/presentation will be an Event, and other area bee clubs will be invited to attend. Laurie will be in charge of coordinating this Event, as with all Events. Linda DeNell, Director of the Caestecker Library, has reserved the big room (seats 100) for this Event, but she warned me that there will be a book sale in process. I'm having a hard time picturing crazed used book buyers disrupting us. After all, we go bravely forward with tens of thousands of bees at a time. No worries. We will probably be meeting in the big room this Saturday when Daniel Ziehli, Wisconsin State Apiary Inspector, gives us a presentation on his role in Wisconsin Beekeeping. Daniel is one of two State Apiary Inspectors, and he's there for us, when he need him. Hopefully we will learn more about the state of beekeeping in Wisconsin, and what to look for in our apiaries to know when we have a problem and need his help. That's it for now. I'll try to restrain myself from sending out anymore newsletters before Saturday. See you then. Gerard
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ECWBA NewsletterSince 2009 Archives
March 2019
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